Minutes for Artists Embassy International Board Meeting
December 29, 2025
10:00-11:00 a.m. on Zoom
Call to Order: 10:00 a.m.
Attendance: Pres. Natica Angilly, 2nd VP Judy Cheung, 3rd VP Susanne “Tatseena” Dennis, Sec. Cindy Levinson, Arthur Levinson, Shantee Baker, Takako Miyashita, Lee Salomon, Gabrielle Marshal, Steve Rodrigues, Josiane Emorine.
Welcome and introduction: Pres. Natica Angilly
Minutes: Read and approved and corrected. Later re-corrected to read as presented. Later re-corrected to read in Old Business: Two books were published on Amazon in 2025, Shall We Hold the Earth in Our Hands? By Natica Angilly and The Awe that Dances Poetry by Natica Angilly.
Treasurer’s Report: Read by VP Judy Cheung.
OLD BUSINESS
Dancing Poetry Contest, Zoom recordings, website, photography: Judy Cheung: The Dancing Poetry Contest was $97 short of paying for the prizes for the first time since our very first contest. We had 80 poets submitting 268 poems from 16 states and 4 countries. Our Zoom recordings of prize winning poets this year was disappointing because many poets presented themselves with backlit silhouettes or only the tops of their heads and other technical difficulties. We are discussing what to do about them. The website is currently up and running. We are publishing less photos of the Dancing Poetry Festivals due to them being on YouTube. We publish the links. I (Judy) continue to take photos of AEI events. Megan Kellaher has also taken many photos used in AEI ads and publicity. Discussion: We need to make AEI more prominent, not only Poetic Dance. Judy and Steve will look into this. PayPal needs to be better placed. Steve will take care of this.
Awards and poets contacts for Dancing Poetry Festival: Cindy Levinson: All went well. Prize winning poets were contacted by phone or email.
Videography and YouTube Programs: Tatseena: This year we used the services of Carl Sermon who has videotaped Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance Festival and Bazaar for many years as well as many other shows and individuals. Arthur Levinson has stepped down as AEI videographer due to getting married. Congratulations Arthur and Liya. We are looking into having a dedicated AEI platform either on YouTube or another company. Discussion: YouTube is better known and is available around the world. We will look into various options. It will be best to have a site only displaying AEI events. All agreed.
Poetic Dance Theater Company: Natica, Tatseena, Shantee: We continue to meet at the El Sobrante Methodist Church for rehearsals each Monday afternoon. Our main events were, and will be in the coming year, the Dance Arts Festival and the Dancing Poetry Festival.
Dance Arts Festival and Dancing Poetry Festival: Natica and Tatseena: Both events were successful at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley in Kensington, CA. This is a beautiful venue, but difficult to do business with since they frequently do not have anyone who can set dates, etc.
Book Publication: Josiane Emorine: We published two books in 2025: Shall We Hold the Earth in Our Hands? and The Awe that Dances Poetry. I (Josiane) am working with Alisha Rodrigues on her many books and with Claire J. Baker for her book of poetry. We hope to have these completed this year.
Judy Cheung is working with Natica to put together a book of Richard Angilly’s works.
Networking: Judy Cheung: AEI works closely with Poets of the Vineyard, Judy Cheung Pres., The POV Newsletter announces and publicizes AEI activities and events:
The Redwood Empire Chinese Association, Judy Cheung secretary, also shares some activities with AEI. They send cultural acts such as the RECA Cultural Dancers and the RECA Lion Dancers to our events.
United Poets Laureate International, Judy Cheung VP, has also been closely interwoven with AEI for many decades. Now, UPLI is inactive. Their website is still up. We heard from UPLI President Gil Yuzon of Manila, Philippines recently. He is not well but sends his best to everyone.
Alameda Island Poets, Natica Angilly is on the board, is an active Bay Area poetry group that continues to have Zoom readings and Zoom poetry workshops featuring poets, many who belong to AEI. Recently, Natica Angilly and Ken Peterson, both AEI members, were featured readers.
Ina Coolbrith Circle, Richard Angilly was president for 30 years and Natica is still active. AEI and ICC have a long history of mutual support.
NEW BUSINESS
Nomination of Susanne Tatseena as AEI president effective immediately: Motion by Shantee Baker, second by Cindy. All approved. Susanne Tatseena is now officially president of AEI.
Nomination of Natica Angilly as AEI vice president effective immediately: Motion by Lee Salomon, second by Shantee Baker, All approved. Natica is now a vice president of AEI.
Nomination of Gabrielle Martial for treasurer and marketing director effective immediately: Motion by Tatseena, second by Natica. All approved. Gabrielle is now treasurer and marketing director of AEI.
Resignation notice of Alisha Rodrigues as 1st Vice President. With regret, we accept the resignation of Alisha Rodrigues who lives in Idaho and resigns due to health and age issues.
Nomination of Josiane Emorine as Vice President. Motion Susanne Tatseena, second by Shantee Baker all approved. Josiane will be taking over much of the contest advertisements that Alisha Rodrigues has been doing. Josiane also is working on compiling, editing and submitting to Amazon AEI books for publication.
Nomination of Suzanne Chaves to be on AEI Board. Nomination by Susanne Tatseena, second by Shantee Baker. All approved. Suzanne has worked with Tatseena for many years and has many skills to bring to us. She is extremely helpful to Tatseena. She is experienced in fundraising. Suzanne Chaves is now on the board of AEI.
Need to update AEI non-profit records with government: Cindy Levinson: Being 501c3, AEI needs to report the change in officers to keep our records up to date. Cindy will do this.
In review: The AEI board as of December 29, 2025, consists of President Susanne “Tatseena” Dennis, Vice President Natica Angilly, Vice President Judy Hardin Cheung, Vice President Josiane Emorine, Secretary Cindy Levinson, Treasurer Gabrielle Marshall, and board members: Shantee Baker, Suzanne Chavez, Loywonner Haddadou, Wanda Ingmire, Arthur Levinson, Takako Miyashita, Steve Rodrigues, Aliza Lee Salomon. All interested members of AEI are invited to attend board meetings.
Dance Arts Festival and Dancing Poetry Festival: Tatseena: Both events are scheduled for 2026. The Dance Arts Festival will be held May 16, 2026, at the Lan Leandro Community Center. The dates we asked for at UUCB were already taken. Tatseena has held many programs at this location. The stage is larger than at UUCB. The Dancing Poetry Festival will be held at UUCB on September 19.
Discussion: Lee is concerned about conflicting events scheduling including Ina Coolbrith Circle always meeting on the 3rd Saturday of each month. This removes about 200 local poets from attending our event. After meeting discussion continued. Judy brought up in after-meeting discussion that it is also a very important weekend for Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. For the Chinese community it is frequently the weekend that Autumn Moon is celebrated. This is a very important family holiday in the Chinese and other Asian communities. Conclusion: We will look into changing this year’s Dancing Poetry Festival to September 26 or early October. We will consider this in the future to avoid the third weekend of September.
Publications on Amazon: Natica, Judy, Josiane: Judy and Natica are working on a book of Richard Angilly’s work. Josiane is working on publishing the works of Alisha Rodrigues and of Claire J. Baker.
Poetic Dance Theater Company: Natica Angilly, Shantee Baker: We plan to continue rehearsing in the Methodist Church of El Sobrante each Monday afternoon. Our biggest performances will be the Dance Arts Festival in San Leandro in May and the Dancing Poetry Festival at UUCB in Kensington now scheduled in September.
Additional Projections for 2026: Discussion: There are numerous elements brought up today to follow through during the coming year of transitioning from the leadership of Natica to Tatseena. We will all work together helping each other in our many ventures. We can pursue re-establishing more interaction and events with visual artists and musicians and other genres in addition to poetry and dance.
Announcements: Congratulations Arthur on your marriage to Liya. May you have many happy years together.
Meeting adjourned: 11:10 am
Next meetings:
January 8, 2026, Thursday, we will meet at La Strada restaurant, 2215 Church Street (corner of San Pablo and Church) at 11:30 am. Cindy will make the arrangements.
March 28, 2026, Saturday, 10:00 am We will have another Zoom meeting. Judy will host with the same Zoom link as today’s meeting.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Judy Hardin Cheung, AEI VP
Upcoming Meeting Agenda
February 12, 2026, 11:30
La Strada Restaurant, 2215 Church Street, San Pablo, CA 94806
- Greetings and opening by President Tatseena
- Informal discussion on follow-up topics from December 29th meeting
- New and proposed members of the board
- Review and update for upcoming programs
- Any other topics of interest or concern
- Meeting adjourned
- Next meeting
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